Scholarship reductions might not be big deal for USC

USC coach Lane Kiffin said he took only 55 scholarship players to the Trojans’ 30-13 victory over Hawaii on Thursday night.

“Obviously that’s a pretty low number, so we’re just trying to put us in the best position for a really good season, that’s to be 1-0 and be as healthy as we can,” Kiffin said.

That means about 15 players did not make the trip, such as injured tailbacks Silas Redd and D.J. Morgan. Defensive end Morgan Breslin, who led USC in sacks, also did not play because of injury.

But are continuing references to scholarship reductions valid? Last year Georgia had 69 recruited players on scholarship, nearly the same as USC right now, and the Bulldogs finished the season ranked No. 4 in the coaches’ poll.

Kiffin’s talked about the negative effect of having less scholarship players on the scout team but Georgia coach Mark Richt said he did not mind having more walk-ons practicing against the first-team players.

“Sometimes a really eager walk-on does better than a scholarship guy who’s bummed out he’s being redshirted,” Richt told the Athens Banner-Herald.

Redd’s not recovering?

Tailback Silas Redd said via twitter he met with Dr. James Andrews on Saturday in Pensacola, Fla. Andrews is one of the best-known surgeons in football and serves as a team doctor for Alabama, Auburn and the Washington Redskins.

Andrews performs up to 50 operations a week and Redd’s visit suggests his knee is still a serious issue after he tore the meniscus last spring.

“It was the worst possible (meniscus) tear you could have,” Redd said.

Perhaps as frustrating for Redd is that he got hurt while practicing on special teams. Does Redd’s trip to Florida mean he might not play this season?

Kiffin typically does not address injury issues with the media.

WSU to test cornerbacks

Washington State quarterback Connor Halliday threw more than 60 passes against Auburn on Saturday, which does not bode well for USC’s depleted secondary this week. Starting cornerbacks Kevon Seymour and Anthony Brown were in street clothes at the end of the Hawaii game because of injuries.

Brown (knee) is considered the more serious of the two, and USC relied on Torrin Harris and Devian Shelton in their absence. Whoever plays will get tested Saturday at the Coliseum.